No tension on starter cord!

[matt_spithill]

I recently bought a second hand 15HP Evinrude (about 1995 model). I've had it serviced, but quite often (generally when I am 10kms from the ramp and it is blowing a gale) there is absolutley no tension on the starter cord when in neutral (so I cant start it). Sometimes if I put it into gear, get tension, then slip it into neutral I can start it up.

I've taken it back to the blokes who serviced it and they got it working, but then first time I took it out on the water the same prob came back. I think they just degreased the lever that kicks the motor into gear...

Once I get tension it starts first time, so I'm pretty keen to get this niggle sorted out.

Any tips?

Thanks,
Matt

[Geoff R]

From my knowledge the tension you should be feeling is compression, it sounds as if you don't have any, did the guys at the service yard tell you what they thought was wrong with it?????.
Regards Geoff P

[Matt Ireland]

I think that there must be a rachet-like device in the pll start (ie you pull the cord out and the motor gets turned over, but when it retracts it just winds the cord back up independently of the motor) and this device does not seem to be working properly when you pull the pull start. When you pull youre not turning the motor over and therefore youre not going to feel any tension.

How do you fix it....Dont ask me....If it was my motor Id take the cover off it and tinker....but I dont know if i should recommend tinkering to anyone else

matt

The spring dogs on the starter mechanism...sticking...in the inward position, not throwing out to engage the top of the fly wheel keyed start pulley.

Usually yiu have to clean and reapply graphite grease to thise dogs to keep emworking nice n free, usually it's centrifugal force that throws the dogs out to engage the fly wheel and in turn pull the crank around turning the engine ove to start.

If they are gummed up with old now hard grease full of salt and sand and won't throw, to engange the flywheel crown then the starter chord will just pull in and out with little tension without turning the engine over.

Usually it means taking the starter mechanism out and degreasing and regreasing it with a marine dilithium/graphite grease preferrably.

Be carefull - the starter mechanism has a long spring in it, which comes into tension as you pull the chord out & 'rewainds' the starter chord when you stop pulling.

If you break this long spring or it all unsprongs on you (now theres a new scientific term) and you don't get it wound back just right - your into all sorts of strife until you do...

Starter Chord springs and rubics cubes - the two things sent to this earth to try mankinds patience and learn kids how to swear propper at an early age.

Best a Brittish luck with it.

Cheers!